San Francisco 49ers: More prime-time eyeballs await

SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers haven't won a Sunday night road game since 1996. They'll get a chance to end that drought in each of their next two games.

Already scheduled to visit the New England Patriots next Sunday night, the 49ers had their Dec. 23 game at Seattle shifted to the 5:20 p.m. slot by the NFL on Monday.

"Just locked in on this one here, going to New England, putting together a really good plan and week of practice," coach Jim Harbaugh said of Monday's scheduling shift.

The 49ers (9-3-1) hold a 1½-game lead over the Seattle Seahawks (8-5) in the NFC West.

Before their prime-time rematch, the 49ers can clinch the division title for a second straight season, but only if they win at New England while the Seahawks lose to the Buffalo Bills in Toronto.

The 49ers are positioned as the No. 2 seed for the NFC playoffs behind the Atlanta Falcons (11-2) and just ahead of the Green Bay Packers (9-4).

"We don't take anything for granted," Harbaugh said. "Nothing is secured until it's secured in terms of being in the playoffs.

The 49ers-Seahawks rematch took NBC's "Sunday Night Football" slot that had been assigned to the San Diego Chargers (5-8) and host New York Jets (6-7). That Chargers-Jets game has moved to 10 a.m. on CBS.

The 49ers are 4-0 this season in prime-time kickoffs, to which Harbaugh replied: "Somebody else mentioned that, that we've been pretty darn good in those type of games."

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Only one of those prime-time victories came on Sunday night, in a 27-19 home opener against the Detroit Lions. Last year, the 49ers did not play on Sunday night in Harbaugh's inaugural season, and they went 1-1 in prime-time affairs on Monday (win vs. Pittsburgh) and Thursday (loss at Baltimore).

The 49ers last won a Sunday night road game Nov. 3, 1996, when they topped the New Orleans Saints 24-17. Since then, they've fallen on Sunday night affairs at Seattle in 1997 (38-9) and 2003 (20-19), at Chicago in 2004 (23-13) and against Arizona in Mexico City in 2005 (31-14).

The 49ers have lost their past two trips to New England -- in 1998 and 2005 -- after winning there 24-12 in 1992.

In reviewing Sunday's 27-13 win over the Miami Dolphins, Harbaugh said the 49ers' offensive tempo needs to improve under quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

"From the Pop Warner days, coaches have been on you to 'Get up to the line of scrimmage! Get set! Be sharp, crisp the way you break the huddle and get lined up and shift, motion.' That was a little slower (Sunday)."

Harbaugh praised the on-field debuts of wide receiver A.J. Jenkins and running back LaMichael James, the 49ers' top two draft picks this year. James made a "real good contribution" with 125 all-purpose yards on offense and as a kickoff returner. Jenkins didn't see a pass come his way in some nine snaps, but Harbaugh commended his blocking and route running.

The extent of defensive lineman/special teamer Demarcus Dobbs' knee injury won't be known until after a Monday MRI, Harbaugh said.